Printing press



Dec. 2, 1941. B. A. YOUNG 2,264,925

PRINTING PRESS Filed Feb. 5, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 2, 1941. B. A. YOUNG 2,264,925

PRINTING PRESS Filed Feb. 5, 1940 3 Shee ts-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 2, 1941 wire-o STAT-as smear oer-rice rmfigfsess Donnelley 8&1 Sons Company,

corporation of Illinois Assassins February 5, isnsersrsb. grain '6 Claims.

My invention relates more particularly, as to one phase thereof, to that portion of a web printing press which comprises the plate cylinder and the impression cylinder cooperating therewith, and as to another phase to the association, with the printing mechanism, of the mechanisms which receive the printed web and slit, cut and fold itinto the desired form.

As is well known in the art, it is necessary in order to produce the desired printed impressions that the pressure exerted by the heavy printing surfaces of the plate cylinder against the web to be printed, be greater than the pressure exer'ted by the lighter printing portions and to accomplish this either the printing surfaces are formed with their tone values at different heights (the lighter tones being depressed), or the impression cylinder is conditioned, as for example by the use of detailed make-ready, so as to provide for such differential pressures.

The surface of the impression cylinder, to produce the proper printing impressions, be formed of yieldable material and unless this surface is maintained substantially in it's original condition, viz., smooth and true, in the continu ing operation of the press (without indentatiohs such as are formed therein by repeated registrations of the printing surfaces with the same portions of the impression cylinder tending to form matrices in the impression' cylihder surface with the well known disadvantages), it is necessary to make special provision for cornpen sating, as best can be done, for the unequal permanent distortion, by differential compression, of the impression cylinder surface, in the continui'ng operation of the press resulting in the loss of impression pressure; in the case of presses wherein the printing surfaces of the plate cylinder extend to the same height and the 'difie'rential pressures referred to are provided for by applying make-ready to the impression-cylinder, requiring special provision of make-ready necessitating its installation by highly skilled opera-'- tors, in the effort to approximate the maintenance of such differential pressures in the continuing operation of the'press.

Presses of the kind referred to customarily are provided with means whereby the printed webs are slit lengthwise into ribbons of the desired width, the ribbons then turned by passing them over angle bars disposed at 45 angles to the longitudinal axes of the printing cylinders and thence about cylinders at right angles to said longitudinal axes which associate the ribbons and feed them in the machine, (in the case of Chicago, 111., a

the production of signatures each made from-a plurality of printed ribbon-sections, so associating the ribbohstthat they are :fed; as a inmltiple unit) .theribbonsthen cut crosswise :into ribbon sections :of the desired length which greatly va'ries -in the case of different printed products; andthe ribbon sections then "folded into final form, asyfor example to Torin-signatures, 'booklets, pamphlets; circulars, or the like;

In 'such machines the ribbons are zcut-into 'ribbon sections-of many different ilen'gths depending on thesize 'Of the pages of the'finished prodnot to be produced, or on the lengths of the circumferences of the printing cylinders.

In accordance with common practice the rtbon turning,ribbomsectioning, and ribbon foldin-g mechanisms referred to; are provided :as "a single unit, very heavy and cumbersome, very expensive .to manufacture, and very "limited in their capacity for producing folded products of different :sizes and therefore :not ,.individu'ally adapted for the production of 'folded products printed onpresses having printing cylinders of a large variety 70f circumferential sizes.

Thus :where; folded products; printed 'on a press employing, selectively printing cylinders :of 'a' large variety of circumfer'ential sizes, are tolbe produced, entailing the provision of a number of presses each limited in .its capacity for producing; folded products printed on cylinders of different circumferences, res'ultingin great expense in the manufacture of .niult'ie'sized products, particularly ;as regards the matter of cost of equipment and the 'space occupied by the machines. Furthermore, each press thus having alimited use oftentimes many of the presses, in the ordinary course; of business, are rendered idle because of lackof orders for work of a size produceableby 'such' presses, with resultant expense:

[One of my-objects is'to maintain the surface of the impression cylinder substantially "in its original smooth and true condition, without objectionable permanent distortions of such surface, such as matrix indentations or bolstering effects, in the continuing operation of the press,- thereby avoiding the disadvantage of matrik indentations in the impression cylinder and bolstering thereof and the necessity of employing special means in the endeavor to compensate for the compression produced by repeated blows of the heavy printing portions against the same portions of the impression cylinder and thus maintain the differential pressures produced by the heavy and light portions of the printing surfaces against its impression surface as nearly constant as possible under such conditions in the continuing operation of the press.

Another object is to greatly reduce the cost, and the space required for installation, of press equipment suitable for the production of folded printed products of varying sizes within a wide range; and other objects as will be manifest from the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, with certain portions broken away and others omitted, of a web printing press embodying my invention and employing two sets of plate and impression cylinders.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan sectional view, with certain of the parts broken away, of one of the similar sets of plate and impression cylinders.

Figure 3 is a detail view the impression cylinders; and

Figure 4, an end view of the press of Fig. 1, the press being viewed from the right in Fig. l.

The press shown comprises a stationary framework It) provided at one end with means H for supporting, for rotation, the paper web l2 to be printed, wound into a roll I3, and series of rolls, shown diagrammatically at M, I5 and I6 and as commonly provided, over which the web extends and from which the web passes to two sets of printing plate cylinders and cooperating impression cylinders I1 and I8, respectively, hereinafter described, for printing both sides of the web.

The sets of plate and impression cylinders have associated therewith inking mechanisms for applying ink to the plate cylinders l I, the inking mechanism for one of the plate cylinders being diagrammatically illustrated at I 9. The inking mechanism may be of any suitable construction,

as for example of a construction as commonly provided and involving an ink fountain (not shown) and rolls interposed between the fountain and the plate cylinder for transferring ink from the fountain to the plate cylinder; the terminal ones of these rolls, namely, those from which the ink is transferred directly to the plate cylinder, being represented at 28 and the rolls intermediate the terminal rolls and the ink fountain, represented at 2|; ing mechanism being adjustable to cooperate with plate cylinders of different diameters.

A roll shown diagrammatically at 22 receives the web after it has been printed and from this roll the web passes to ting the web into ribbons 23 and 24 of the same or different widths, thence to means for turning the ribbons at right angles, means for cutting the ribbons into ribbon sections of the desired length and means for folding the into the desired form, all as hereinafter fully described.

Referring now to the feature of the plate and impression cylinder mechanisms constituting one phase of my invention, the impression cylinder I8 is provided with the desired resilient, yielding, circumferential surface substantially of the same density as the surfaces of impression cylinders as commonly provided, in any suitable way to render it continuous about the cylinder, as for example by forming it with a rubber, tubular, seamless blanket 25.

In accordance with one phase of my invention the impression cylinder and plate cylinder are so related that in successive cycles of rolling in end elevation of the rolls of the inkmeans for lengthwise slitribbon sections contact no point on the plate cylinder will reg ister with the same point on the impression cylinder thus distributing the zones of pressure against the impression cylinder, eliminating the possibility of producing objectionable matrices in the impression cylinder and avoiding the necessity of special make-ready such as is required where the portions of the printing plates, in the continued operation of the press, register with the same portions of the impression cylinder,

. and the bolstering of the impression cylinder surface as occurs with presses as hitherto commonly provided for certain kinds of printing.

In carrying out my invention in the preferred way the impression cylinder 18 is provided of a circumference slightly more or less than the circumference of the plate cylinder [1, the circumference of one of these cylinders being preferably an aliquant part of the circumference of the other cylinder; the impression cylinder being mounted on a shaft 25 for rotary and lengthwise movement thereon, the shaft 26 being journaled in journal boxes 21 on the frame I I], one of which is equipped. with a combined radial and thrust ball bearing 28, to be slidably adjustable toward and away from the plate cylinder I? in guides 29 on the frame I 0. The boxes 21 at the sides thereof farthest from the plate cylinder ll are backed up by coil springs 30 and at their other sides are engaged by adjusting screws 3! threaded in stationary blocks 32 on the frame ill, the adjustment of the screws 3| determining the degree of pressure exerted, under the action of the springs 30, by the impression cylinder l8 against the web l2 interposed between it and the plate cylinder H.

The ends of the shaft 26 are provided with spur gears 33 releasably connected therewith and meshing with spur gears 34 of the same size releasably connected with the shaft 35 of the plate cylinder l7, whereby the plate cylinder I1 and the shaft 26 revolve at the same speed, the plate cylinder being connected with the drive mechanism for the press in accordance with common practice.

The shaft 35 is also adjustable toward and away from the impression cylinder l8, as for example by journaling the shaft 35 in journal boxes 36 slidable along guides '31 on the frame 50 and engageable at opposite sides by adjusting screws 38 and 39, the screws 38 being threaded in the stationary blocks 32 and the screws 39 in stationary blocks 40 on the frame I 0.

In the particular construction shown the impression cylinder I8 is driven through the pres sure of contact of its cylindrical bearers 4| with the cylindrical bearers 42 of the plate cylinder H as well as through the contact through the web l2, between its blanket 25 and the printing plates on the plate cylinder l'l. Thus the peripheral speed of the impression cylinder 18 is exactly equal to that of the plate cylinder but its revolutions will be greater or less in exact proportion to the difference between its circumference and that of the plate cylinder. As a result any point on the plate cylinder in successive cycles of rolling contact will gradually creep around the surface of the impression cylinder in its successive contacts, thus greatly reducing the possibility of the formation of matrices in the impression cylinder.

It may here be stated that while contact between the plate cylinder and the impression cylinder is produced, in part between bearers on these cylinders, as above described, in the case of certain types of web presses, the contact in other types of web presses, such as newspaper presses to which other types my invention also relates, is different in that the contactis solely between the plates on the plate cylinder and the blanket :on the impression cylinder, there being no contact provided between bearers on these cylinders. However, by incorporat ing the described differential cylinder idea in this latter referred to type of press, the creeping action above referred to may be produced with the results above noted.

To further reduce the tendency of matricing of the impression :cylinder and to minimize the tendency to bolstering, as for example in a press .of the type for printing newspapers, provision is made forv very slowly oscillating the impression cylinder 1'8 endwise, as for example about one inch, this feature, in combination with the above described d-ifierential cylinder feature, serving to distribute the impression contacts of any one portion of the printing plate lateral-1y as well as radially.

The particular means shown for this purpose comprise rings 43 secured, as by screws A l, to the ends of the impression roll l8, the outer faces 45 :of these rings being disposed obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 2-6 thus forming cams which are reversely positioned as shown. "These means also comprise followers in the form .of rollers 46 journaled on studs 41 secured to sectional rings 48 extending into annular grooves 49 in the shaft-.26 and rigidly clamped in place on this shaft. The rollers 4'6 are located at the opposite ends .of the impression .cylinder I 8 at the same side .of the shaft 26 and bear against the respective cam surfaces 45.

As the impression cylinder l8 rotates at a different speed than the shaft 26, the cam surfaces 45 pf the impression cylinder and the rollers 4.6 relatively rotate in the continuing rotation of these parts, the cam surfaces 45 rotating against the rollers 46 where the impression cylinder is smaller than the plate cylinder, as in the particular construction shown, and thus cause the impression cylinder to slowly creep along the shaft 25 and thus lengthwise relative to the plate cylinder; by way of example the parts of the structure being so proportioned as to require approximately 1,000 revolutions of the impression cylinder before it returns to its starting point of contact with the plate cylinder.

As will be understood, the constructing of presses with their impression cylinders of different circumferences than their plate cylinders and providing adjustable bearings for the cylinders and adjustable inking mechanisms, permits of the use of plate cylinders of many different circumferences, selectively, without objectionable permanent deformation of the yieldable surfaces of the impression cylinders, thereby adapting the presses for a wide range of work.

As will be understood, the feature of providing the impression cylinder of a circumference different from that of the plate cylinder permits of the selective use, with the impression cylinder, of plate cylinders of many different circumferences, affording to the press the capability of producing a wide range of sizes of printed products; the folding of such range of products on a single machine, in accordance with structures as hitherto provided, not being commercially feasible, but which is rendered feasible by my invention as hereinafter described,

Referring now to the mechanisms for slitting the printed web l2 into the ribbons :23 and '24 turning the ribbons, cutting the ribbons into ribbon sections and folding the ribbon sections; these mechanisms may be of any suitable construction, such as for example of conventional construction as diagrammatically illustrated in the drawings, the construction of mechanisms shown and involving slitting of the web into "the two ribbons '23 and 24 only, of equal width and the folding of each ribbon separately, being selected for illustration to simplify the illustrating of these features of the machine; my invention not relating to any of the mechanical features of these mechanisms but to the provision-of such of these mechanisms as are limited in use to the production of certain sizes of folded products .orln connection with a certain diameter of plate cylinder, as a unit separate from the other mechanisms and removable and replaceable inoperative position, permitting interchange of such units, as conditions require.

The slitting mechanism referred to comprises a slitting roll shown diagrammatically at 5i! journal'ed on the frame Hi to extend parallel with the plate and impression cylinders if and 18 and commonly adjustable for slitting the web in'to ribbons :of any desired width and number.

Located beyond the slitting roll 56 is the ribbon turning mechanim comprising angle bars .5! and 5'2 mounted in the stationary frame H) to extend .at 45 angles to the longitudinal axes of the slitting roll -5 1), to which the ribbons are ted over rolls :53 and 54, the angle bars '5] and :52 serving to turn the ribbons into positions at rig-ht angles to the longitudinal axis of the slitting roll 50.

Associated with the angle bars 5| and 2 are rollers 53 as conventionally provided over which the ribbons '23 and '25 pass from these angle bars, the rollers 53 being disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the slitting roll 5!]. Driven pinch rolls 55 located beyond the rollers 53 receive the ribbons after passing these rollers and serve to feed them.

Located below the ribbon-turning means are "the means for cutting the ribbons into "sections of the desired length and folding these ribbon sections into the desired form, these means comprising cooperating male and female cutter rolls 5t and '51 geared together and journaled in a frame 58 separate from the stationary frame It and fitting into a recess 59 in the latter. The frame 58 is provided with supporting rollers til by which this frame and the parts carried thereby may be readily removed from the recess 59 to permit of the substitution therefor of another similar unit, but adapted for producing a different sized product, as desired, the frame 58 being secured in place in the recess 59 as by bolting to the frame In, one of the securing bolts being shown at 6|.

To one side of the cutter rolls 56 and 51 is the mechanism for folding the ribbon sections to produce the desired product, this mechanism comprising a pair of rolls 62 and 63 journaled in the frame '58 and receiving the ribbon sections from the cutter rolls 55 and 51 and, by means of tucker blades (not shown) on the roll 62 and folding jaws (not shown) on the roll :63,'fold the ribbon sections into the desired form, the folded products produced from the ribbon sections of the respective ribbons 23 and 24 being delivered,..

by delivery cylinders 64 and 85 journaled in the frame 58, to endless conveyors 66 and 11, respectively.

The several rolls of the ribbon cutting, folding and delivery mechanism are geared together as shown to rotate in the proper directions and at the proper speed, being shown as driven from a gear train comprising gears 58, 69, Ti] and H. The gears 68, E9 and 79 are journaled on the stationary frame If), the gear 68 being driven from the drive for the press, and the gear H is journaled in the removable and replaceable frame 58. The gear train referred to is thus adapted for separation at the gears 10 and ll, requiring only the meshing together of these gears in applying the removable unit to position.

The conveyors 67 and 68, driven from the folding mechanism in accordance with common practice are supported on a frame 12 which may be permanently attached to the removable frame 58 and be removable with the latter, or releasably attached thereto, and re-attached to a substituted unit, as desired.

As will be understood, the mechanisms for cutting the ribbons into ribbon sections and folding the ribbon sections are the only ones of the mechanisms shown which it is not commercially feasible to construct for producing folded products of different sizes. Thus by providing such mechanisms in the form of an assembled unit and providing these units in an assortment of sizes, the press, with the differential plate and impression cylinder feature incorporated therein, may be rendered adapted for producing any desired size of product by selecting for use the one of such units which is appropriate to the particular size of plate cylinder uses, and which may be readily and quickly assembled with, and disassembled from, the press structure.

While I have illustrated and described a particular construction embodying my invention I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto as the same may be variously modified and altered and the invention embodied in other forms of structure without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A web printing press comprising a stationary frame, printing and cooperating impression cylinders journaled on said frame and between which the web feeds, means on said frame to conduct the printed web to web sectioning means, a plurality of frames separate from said stationary frame and adapted to be selectively interchangeably associated with said stationary frame, websectioning means on each of said plurality of frames and means on each of said plurality of frames for folding the web sections, said web sectioning means operative, respectively, to cut the webs into the different length sections and said last-named means operative, respectively, to fold the different sizes of web sections produced by the web-sectioning means associated there with.

2, A web printing press comprising a stationary frame, printing and cooperating impression cylinders journaled on said frame and between which the web feeds, an angularly disposed bar on said frame with which the printed web engages and by which the web is turned, a plurality of frames separate from said stationary frame and adapted to be selectively interchangeably associated with said stationary frame, web-sectioning means on each of said plurality of frames and means on each of said plurality of frames for folding the web sections, said web sectioning means operative, respectively, to cut the Webs into the dif ferent length sections and said last-named means operative, respectively, to fold the different sizes of web sections produced by the web-sectioning means associated therewith.

3. A web printing press comprising a stationary frame, printing and cooperating impression cylinders journaled on said frame and between which the web feeds, means on said frame for slitting the printed web, a plurality of frames separate from said stationary frame and adapted to be selectively interchangeably associated with said stationary frame, web-sectioning means on each of said plurality of frames and means on each of said plurality of frames for folding the web sections, said web sectioning means operative, respectively, to cut the webs into the different length sections and said last-named means operative, respectively, to fold the different sizes of web sections produced by the web-sectioning means associated therewith.

i. A web printing press comprising a stationary frame, printing and cooperating impression cylinders journaled on said frame and between which the web feeds, means on said frame for slitting the printed web into ribs, angularly disposed bars on said frame with which the web ribbons, respectively, engage and by which the web ribbons are turned, a plurality of frames separate from said stationary frame and adapted to be selectively interchangeably associated with said stationary frame, web-sectioning means on each of said plurality of frames and means on each of said plurality of frames for folding the web sections, said web sectioning means operative, respectively, to cut the webs into the different length'sections and said last-named means operative, respectively, to fold the different sizes of web sections produced by the web-sectioning means associated therewith.

5. A web printing press comprising, in combination: a frame; printing mechanism and means for conducting the printed web to websectioning means carried by said frame; a second frame; web sectioning and folding means carried by said second frame; a third frame; web sectioning and folding means of a different character carried by said third frame; and means for interchangeably connecting either of said second or third frames to said first frame whereby printed matter of differing folds and sections may be produced with utilization of a single printing mechanism.

6. A web printing press comprising, in combination: a stationary frame; printing mechanism and driving means therefor, and means for conducting the printed web to web sectioning means carried by said frame; a gear driven by said means; a plurality of frames each carrying cutting and folding mechanism differing upon the respective frames; a set of driving elements carried by each of said plurality of frames for the respective mechanisms; each set including a gear formed and located to mesh with said driven gear when its frame is associated with the stationary frame; and means for connecting any chosen one of said plurality of frames with said stationary frame and with said gears in mesh whereby to secure a desired cut and fold of material printed by said printing mechanism.

BRUCE A, YOUNG. 

